Community

An Innovative, Diverse, and Cooperative Community

Creative, resourceful, intelligent, energetic, entrepreneurial, and above all, highly motivated to make things happen around them — all of these are hallmarks of the Berkeley MBA student. Student leadership is a distinctive aspect of the Haas culture, and leadership abilities are among the key attributes of its students.

Whether they are creating a student-initiated elective class in the MBA curriculum or launching a special school-wide event, Haas students regularly lead the way in shaping the Full-time MBA Program. This high level of innovation and involvement helps the school to stay attuned to the emerging interests and needs of students, and to evolving trends in the marketplace. Moreover, the Berkeley MBA program is designed to develop a student's leadership skills and create conditions in which they can be put to good use.

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Already Successful

The highly selective Berkeley MBA program attracts students that have solid academic backgrounds and test scores confirming they possess the intellectual capacity and stamina to meet the challenges of the academically demanding program. But they also arrive having already distinguished themselves in their previous work experience, as well as in community activities and other outside endeavors.

Leaders with a Heart

The Berkeley MBA program is dedicated to teaching you about business and the creation of opportunity. It also offers lessons in the importance of sharing opportunities that come from business success. This idea is well captured by the phrase “leaders with a heart,” coined by Arun Sarin, Berkeley MBA 78 and former CEO of Vodafone, the world's second largest mobile phone company. He believes it captures the essence of Berkeley MBA graduates: innovative business leaders concerned about leaving the world a better place.

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Diversity is Key

Diversity is a key strength of the Berkeley MBA program; it can be measured in many ways. About a third of the students are from outside the United States, representing more than 40 countries from around the globe. Students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, religious affiliations, and sexual orientations are an important part of Haas' diversity, actively cultivated through the work of the school's Standing Committee on Diversity at Haas, dedicated to ensuring that Haas fosters a welcoming environment for students from all backgrounds. The academic backgrounds of students vary widely, ranging from science and engineering to economics and fine arts. Professional experience and outside activities are astonishing in their breadth. The enriching diversity of the Berkeley MBA program is deliberate and has the critical purpose of mirroring the global makeup of today's business world.

While they may be different from one another in many ways, Haas students are similar in their outlook. They share a deep commitment to learning, high aspirations while in school and in reaching for success in a new career, and the desire to make a real difference in the business and world communities.